The Kalamazoo Mall was abuzz with activity last Saturday, August 9, 2025, as the third annual Dogs in the Zoo event transformed the heart of the city into a vibrant, tail-wagging celebration. But this year, the festivities carried a deeper resonance for many in attendance, as the community rallied to support Copper’s Dog House, a beloved hot dog and ice cream stand reeling from a recent break-in.
For dog lovers and their four-legged companions, Dogs in the Zoo has become a much-anticipated tradition. According to event co-coordinator Joe Gamrat, "I think all events are important for small businesses. People come downtown, maybe they've never really been downtown. In this case, they're able to enjoy all of downtown. And so for a small business, it means people may be shopping for the first time." The event, now in its third year, featured a dazzling array of dog-centric attractions: prizes, splash pads, an agility course, free tennis balls, paw printing, and a hot dog eating contest that drew plenty of laughs and cheers from the crowd. The SPCA of Southwest Michigan also made an appearance, offering visitors the chance to meet—and perhaps adopt—a new furry friend in need of a home.
Yet, for the owners of Copper’s Dog House, Joe and Jenna Gamrat, the festivities arrived at a bittersweet moment. Just three days earlier, their small business—nestled between downtown storefronts and known for its walk-up window service—had been rocked by a break-in. The thief made off with $120, but the greater loss came in the form of a shattered custom slide-out window, now replaced by a sheet of plywood and a lingering sense of vulnerability. "Your heart just sinks," Joe Gamrat told News Channel 3. "We’ve poured the entire season into making this what it is."
The Gamrats, a young couple five years into marriage and four years into entrepreneurship, had only recently taken the plunge into the world of hot dogs and ice cream. They purchased Copper’s late last year, eager to add their own flavor to a cherished local tradition. This was to be their first season at the helm, with plans to run the stand from March through December. But the break-in forced them to close their doors until further notice, as the cost to replace the custom window would run into the thousands—a tough blow for any small business, let alone one just getting its footing.
"All this damage for $120," Joe lamented. A forensics team was soon on the scene, gathering fingerprints and DNA, while surveillance footage was turned over to authorities. Still, as of Saturday, no suspects had been identified. The Gamrats were left to pick up the pieces, both literally and figuratively, as they weighed their options for reopening.
In the midst of this setback, hope arrived from an unexpected quarter. Collins Conway, an 18-year-old part-time employee at Copper’s and one of just two staffers, sprang into action upon hearing the news. Conway, who was working a summer job before heading off to college, immediately launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the costs of repairs. He also took to Instagram, sharing the story with his peers and the wider community. "I would call them my friends, and in any way that you would help your friend, that's all I'm trying to do," Conway explained. He posted photos from behind the counter, including a snapshot of owner Joe giving a reassuring thumbs-up in the aftermath of the break-in.
Conway’s efforts weren’t limited to raising money. He wanted to keep spirits high, both for his bosses and the community at large. "Obviously, 18-year-olds and 17-year-olds aren’t going to be able to necessarily donate, but just having people keeping in their thoughts and prayers, that just helps a ton," he said. His optimism was infectious: "I believe people are inherently good. Thousands of people do bad things every single day. This is no different than that. It’s a bad thing, but it only takes one person doing a good thing to reverse that. I’m just trying to be one person."
The Gamrats, touched by the outpouring of support, were determined to press on. "Just knowing that we have people behind us supporting us and rallying behind us to help us get this back reopened, [it] just feels like we’re not alone in doing it ourselves," Jenna Gamrat reflected. Plans for Copper’s reopening are in the works, with more details expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, the Dogs in the Zoo event provided an ideal backdrop for a community fundraiser. From noon to 4 p.m., the Gamrats set up shop at the event, giving away free food from their existing inventory—ensuring nothing went to waste—and hosting a lively hot dog eating contest. The goal was twofold: to raise money for the costly repairs and to keep the spirit of Copper’s alive while the stand remained shuttered. The event, already a boon for downtown businesses thanks to the surge in foot traffic, took on new meaning as friends, neighbors, and strangers alike came together to lend a hand.
Downtown Kalamazoo has long prided itself on its tight-knit community and entrepreneurial spirit. Events like Dogs in the Zoo are more than just a fun day out—they’re a reminder of the vital role small businesses play in the local economy and the power of collective goodwill. As Joe Gamrat noted, such gatherings bring people downtown, sometimes for the first time, and introduce them to the wealth of shops and eateries that make the city unique.
The SPCA’s presence at the event underscored another important theme: second chances. As families mingled with adoptable dogs, the notion of starting fresh resonated not just for the pets but for Copper’s Dog House as well. The Gamrats’ journey, marked by both adversity and resilience, mirrored the stories of many small business owners who face unexpected hurdles yet persevere with the help of their community.
For now, the plywood remains in place at Copper’s, but the sense of loss is tempered by hope. The outpouring of support—from a determined teenage employee to the hundreds who turned out for Dogs in the Zoo—has given the Gamrats the encouragement they need to rebuild. As Jenna put it, knowing they are not alone has made all the difference.
As summer winds down and the city looks ahead to the fall, one thing is clear: the spirit of Kalamazoo, much like that of its favorite hot dog stand, is unbreakable. The community’s willingness to rally around its own, even in the face of setbacks, ensures that both Copper’s Dog House and the Dogs in the Zoo event will continue to be cherished fixtures for years to come.
